Red Wings' Mike Babcock: 'We have to decide what kind of team we want to be'

AP PhotoDetroit Red Wings Drew Miller, left, and Patrick Eaves collide while chasing a loose puck during Tuesday's game at St. Louis.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – After Thursday's 5-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock made it sound as if his team is at a crossroads this season, after only 17 games.

“We're at the point we got to make a decision what kind of team we want to be and how hard we want to play for 60 minutes and get this looked after, because you can't let this snowball on you,'' Babcock said. “You got to win on the road and you got to win at home.''

The Red Wings have lost five consecutive road games and are 9-7-1 overall.

Babcock said they will sit down as a group before Friday's practice in Los Angeles and have a discussion.

“Do we want to be a real good team or not?'' Babcock said. “Life just doesn't go on for you. You make a decision that it's going to go good for you. You decide for yourself that you're going to be successful. You decide for yourself that you're going to make a difference. You decide for yourself that you're going to have a good career.

“No one just gives you this stuff. Other teams are trying, too. So we got to make decisions.''

Center Henrik Zetterberg said they must remain positive.

“There will be people that will be negative enough,'' Zetterberg said. “Players in here, we have to stick together and stay positive. Come back on Saturday and play a good game (against the Kings).''

Zetterberg continues to struggle

Amazingly, Zetterberg's assist on Danny Cleary's goal was his first point on the power play this season. He hasn't been much better at even strength and has just three goals and four assists.

“Absolutely not (good enough),'' Zetterberg said. “It's tough. You just got to try to do things right and work hard every day in practice and games and hopefully it'll turn around.''

Fellow star Pavel Datsyuk also had an assist on Thursday, but has gone 12 games without a goal and has only 11 points (two goals, nine assists).

“I don't think they're squeezing the stick that much,'' captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. “I think they're working hard. It's a matter of them getting shots through and scoring some goals and getting some confidence back. They have to continue to shoot the puck.''

Smith makes NHL debut

The Red Wings have high hopes for talented rookie defenseman Brendan Smith, who they envision being their primary point man on the power play one day.

“He has all of the potential in the world,'' teammate Niklas Kronwall said. “He’s going to be a really good player in this league. Just keep it simple right from the start and he’ll be just fine.

“Nothing's holding him back. He has a lot of upside offensively. We need that from him. Whenever he has a chance to join the rush he needs to be able to do that.''

Smith made his NHL debut Thursday. He played 19:18, had no points and posted a minus-2 rating.

Smith, the Red Wings' top pick in 2007 (27th overall), is a tremendous skater who likes to rush the puck. An injury to Ian White (fractured cheek bone, out another week) enabled the club to recall Smith from the Grand Rapids Griffins.

“Get the puck going and skate and be assertive. Be confident,'' Babcock said before the game. “That's the kind of kid he is anyway. Play your game. Don't come out and be cautious and be careful. Just come out and play hard and get the puck going for us.''

Smith was paired with Niklas Kronwall at even strength and Lidstrom on the top power-play unit.

“The biggest thing is that I have to make those first crisp passes, the easy play,'' Smith said. “Then get myself into the game and I can do some of the stuff that has gotten me here. But right away I’m going to try to make the easy play. I’ll try to work my way into the game nice and slow and be calm.”

Smith's parents, Lester and Dierdre, and older brother, Rory, booked a flight Thursday morning from Toronto to watch the game in person. They might fly to Southern California for the final two games of the trip, Saturday at Los Angeles and Sunday at Anaheim.

“I thought it was a little crazy that they're coming, but they've been through it all and I think they're a little more excited than I was,'' Smith said.

“It'll be pretty cool, pretty exciting to see. They said they're going to leave me alone for the game and talk to me afterward.''